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Madonna's W.E. Moment

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"COSTUME, jewellery, hair and make-up-hungry" is how Madonna summed up her latest venture, the much anticipated film W.E. - a two-tiered love story focussing on the love affair between King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson (played by James D'Arcy and Andrea Riseborough), and the modern-day Manhattan romance between a married woman and a Russian security guard (Abbie Cornish as Wally Winthrop and Oscar Isaac as Evgeni).

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But mainly it's about Wallis Simpson, who centralises the whole thing - which makes it easy, then, to see why Madonna - who directed and co-wrote the film - described its visual appeal as such: the Thirties for a backdrop, those jewels, those red lips, that sense of glamorous nostalgia. But that wasn't the only point to be made here - after all, the story between King Edward VIII and Mrs Simpson was a pretty serious one.

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Andrea Riseborough plays Wallis Simpson PA Photos

"I was drawn into the story by trying to understand why someone in such a powerful position would give up something so big. I thought it was incredibly brave. Men are power-seeking creatures by nature so the idea that someone would give that up for love I find fascinating," explained Madonna last night, post-screening at Leicester Square's Empire cinema.

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In between the infamous royal love story unfolding comes the tale of Wally Winthrop - herself fascinated by Simpson and, throughout the film, finding herself coming face to face with her in various daydream states - and her own romantic struggles with her husband. For Madonna, this two-tiered approach to the film was about telling the story from a different point of view.

"I think it is important to accept that truth is subjective and how we interpret a story is always different to someone else. I never set out to make a quintessential biopic" - and it's fair to say that if that is what you are expecting, this is possibly the wrong film for you - "I thought it was important to give the story a point of view - seen through the eyes of a young woman looking for love and happiness," she said.

Shot in three countries with 43 different locations, 83 costume changes for the Duchess (Riseborough does indeed have a very enviable wardrobe and is very good in the part), and taking three years of legwork before the writing process began (something the legendary singer said she very much enjoyed), Madonna was meticulous in her research - interviewing anyone and everyone who might have known the royal couple, watching every documentary on them and reading their letters.

What is it she'd like us to take away from the film?

"I think it's a complex story. There's no such thing as a perfect love and if you think so you're in for a rude awakening. Real love requires compromise and nothing is as it seems."

That and essentially powerful women - doing it for themselves. And what else would you expect from her Madgesty?